Leathermarket JMB is a resident-run organisation. This means that, once we have met our legal and contractual obligations, the people who live in our homes have the final say in what the JMB’s priorities are and how we deliver our work.
So, if you live in a JMB home and think we are doing something wrong – or have a good idea about how we could do things better, then contact us and let us know. You’re the boss and we want to hear from you.
The first and most important way to have your say in the running of the JMB is by contacting the JMB office and telling us about what you think. This might be about something to do with your home or the running of your estate. You might think that the JMB should be doing something differently or you might want to tell us something we’re doing well that we should be doing more of.
The JMB holds a number of meetings about specific topics. For example, we have held meetings for homeowners on our estates, or about cleaning. or about major refurbishment work on our estates. You will not have to do or say anything, but at least it will give you the chance to hear about what is going on.
If you do want to tell us about what you think, the JMB would love to hear what you think. You can either tell us at the meeting itself or you can contact the JMB office later.
The Tenants and Residents Associations (TRAs) play an important role in holding the JMB staff to account for what they do. These are separately organised associations which represent the residents of the estates in the JMB area.
If you want your TRA to take up an issue for you, then contact your local TRA to find out how they can take your issue forward. (contact details for TRAs can be found here). You may come to a TRA meeting yourself, or ask the TRA committee to take your issue forward for you.
Anyone can join their TRA for free. If you want to get more involved in your TRA then get in touch with your local TRA and go along to a meeting. The people on the TRAs are very friendly and always welcome new members.
TRAs also receive money from Southwark Council to do their work and to organise social events, such as barbecues, trips to the seaside or abroad, events for children or Christmas parties. If you have an idea for a social event on your estate then contact your TRA committee and they will be able to look at your idea.
There are five Tenants and Residents Association (TRA) areas in the JMB. Anyone can get involved in the TRA for their area.
If you are not sure which TRA area that you live in, check here to look up your TRA.
Crosby, Lockyer & Hamilton TRA meets every month at the JMB offices at 26 Leathermarket Street, SE1 3HN
For more information contact enquiries@leathermarketjmb.org.uk
Decima TRA meets on the last Monday of the month at 7pm in the Tenants’ Hall at 7 Decima Street, SE1 4QR
For more information contact the Decima TRA via email DecimaTRA@leathermarketJMB.org.uk or visit their website.
Kipling TRA meets on the second Thursday of every month at 6.30pm in the Tenants Association Hall at Simla House, SE1 6RL
For more information e-mail enquiries@leathermarketJMB.org.uk
Kipling TRA meets on the first Wednesday of every month at 7pm in the Roundhouse, Cardinal Bourne Street, SE1 4EJ
For more information e-mail enquiries@leathermarketJMB.org.uk
Bermondsey Street have a Tenants and Residents group who meet at 6:30 on the third Wednesday of the month at the JMB Office, 26 Leathermarket Street, SE1 3HN.
For more information e-mail enquiries@leathermarketJMB.org.uk
The JMB is formally run by a board of directors who make the decisions about how the JMB does its work and the priorities for future work. The Board is made up of 10 resident directors – two from each TRA area – who are elected by the residents every year. There are also three co-opted directors – these are people who are asked to join the Board by the resident directors to bring in extra skills, such as finance or human resorces skills.
The JMB Board meets four times a year and in between these meetings there are meetings of Board sub-committees looking at specific issues like finance, staffing and repairs.
The JMB is a resident-run organisation, where the people who live in JMB homes are responsible for the key decisions about how we are run and the priorities that are made. To do this there is a Board of Directors, where 2 residents are nominated from each of the JMB’s five TRA (Tenant and Resident Association) areas to be JMB Directors
These 10 local people represent tenants and leaseholders and sit as the JMB Board of Directors. They make the key decisions on behalf of residents.
They question what the JMB is doing and agree how we can improve our services. They also have to ensure the JMB remains financially stable and meets its legal obligations. They also nominate up to three co-opted Directors to give specialist advice and support.
Directors make joint decisions at Board meetings, in the interests of all residents of the JMB. They also hold a range of sub-group meetings, in conjunction with other residents, to develop policy and oversee the day-to-day working of the JMB.
Any JMB tenant or leaseholder can become a JMB director. If you are interested then get in touch with your local TRA, or speak to the JMB office they will tell you how to go about it in your area.
The TRAs normally elect their directors in September, with these elections formally confirmed by a meeting of residents at the Leathermarket JMB AGM in October.
We welcome people to come forward as directors, but the law requires that JMB Directors have an appropriate level of knowledge about our work and the whole of our area. JMB directors are formal company directors who have legal responsibilities under the Companies Act and have to sign a contract covering their responsibilities to the JMB, particularly around confidentiality. We encourage people to learn and get involved with our work through the JMB sub-groups – which are open to all residents.
Almost all of our directors have a good track record of involvement with these sub-groups and their TRAs. Someone with no previous involvement in their TRA or JMB sub groups or has no knowledge of social housing issues is likely to find being a director difficult, and may struggle to represent people and meet their legal obligations (see below).
If you are interested in being a director, please contact the JMB Office to talk through the expectations, responsibilities and duties of the role. This will help you to know whether being a director is the right thing for you.
No. JMB Directors are directors of a Limited Company and so Company Law puts restrictions on who can be a Director. This means, for example, that a director has to be a member of the JMB.
However, if you are considering standing you need to be clear that the Companies Law places a number of legal duties on people who are JMB directors. You’ll be under:
The Company Secretary has the legal duty under Companies Law to ensure that all the Directors are eligible to be company directors and have been properly registered with Companies House.
The JMB Company Secretary is currently the Executive Manger of the JMB, Andy Bates. If you are unsure about your eligibility, contact Andy at the JMB Office.
Note: TRA members have a responsibility to ensure that anyone that they are nominating as a director is eligible to stand. JMB staff will be able to advise at each election meeting.
Directors are elected for one year.
Directors exercise their decision making powers and responsibilities when they come together at Board and sub-group meetings. For directors to play their part in the running of the JMB and representing residents they need to attend at least 2 or 3 meetings/ events a month. Meetings usually take place during the early evenings on weekdays.